Nijel Pack, along with true freshman Jalil Bethea, was named to the top 100 best players in college basketball by ESPN.
Nijel Pack, the star guard, is ranked No. 91 overall. Bethea is ranked No. 86 in the country.
"Pack hasn't been able to replicate his Kansas State sophomore scoring numbers during his two years at Miami, but with the departures of Norchad Omier, Wooga Poplar, Bensley Joseph, and Kyshawn George, he might have to take more shots this season. How Jim Larrañaga structures his backcourt around Pack, top-10 recruit Jalil Bethea and Stetson transfer Jalen Blackmon will be interesting to monitor."
"The 6-4 guard, who ranked 10th in the 2024 class per ESPN, is an explosive prospect with shooting range to beat teams from the perimeter. He's also capable of attacking and scoring in a multitude of ways. Named a McDonald's All-American, Bethea might not have the same buzz as some of his peers in the class, but he'll be one of the most talented players in the ACC."
Pack, who returns to Miami for his senior year, faced challenges last season, recording a career-low three-point shooting percentage of 35.7% and a field goal percentage of 40%. Much of this decline can be attributed to injuries.
The previous season, he shined for a Final Four team with averages of 13.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. His shooting stats were equally remarkable, hitting 44.1% from the field and 40.4% from three-point range. His outstanding performance in the NCAA Tournament earned him the accolade of Most Outstanding Player in the Midwest Region.
Jalil Bethea, who earned the title of McDonald’s All-American earlier in the year, guided Archbishop Wood to the semifinals of the Class 6A state tournament. Throughout 27 games, he averaged 23.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
You can see both make their 2024-25 debut this Wednesday when Miami takes on Saint Leo in an exhibition game.
Nijel Pack, the star guard, is ranked No. 91 overall. Bethea is ranked No. 86 in the country.
"Pack hasn't been able to replicate his Kansas State sophomore scoring numbers during his two years at Miami, but with the departures of Norchad Omier, Wooga Poplar, Bensley Joseph, and Kyshawn George, he might have to take more shots this season. How Jim Larrañaga structures his backcourt around Pack, top-10 recruit Jalil Bethea and Stetson transfer Jalen Blackmon will be interesting to monitor."
"The 6-4 guard, who ranked 10th in the 2024 class per ESPN, is an explosive prospect with shooting range to beat teams from the perimeter. He's also capable of attacking and scoring in a multitude of ways. Named a McDonald's All-American, Bethea might not have the same buzz as some of his peers in the class, but he'll be one of the most talented players in the ACC."
Pack, who returns to Miami for his senior year, faced challenges last season, recording a career-low three-point shooting percentage of 35.7% and a field goal percentage of 40%. Much of this decline can be attributed to injuries.
The previous season, he shined for a Final Four team with averages of 13.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. His shooting stats were equally remarkable, hitting 44.1% from the field and 40.4% from three-point range. His outstanding performance in the NCAA Tournament earned him the accolade of Most Outstanding Player in the Midwest Region.
Jalil Bethea, who earned the title of McDonald’s All-American earlier in the year, guided Archbishop Wood to the semifinals of the Class 6A state tournament. Throughout 27 games, he averaged 23.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
You can see both make their 2024-25 debut this Wednesday when Miami takes on Saint Leo in an exhibition game.
